CHESS Stephen Dann

This writer’s initial reaction to the promos of “Brooklyn Castle” was that it was a fundraising effort to help send dozens of middle school students to Empire State and national chess events and most of it was staged to present chess in its best light to gain donations. But after viewing it, I consider it one of most motivating school reality videos of at least the past decade, not a boring documentary. A trailer is at www.brooklyncastle.com.

School funding cuts throughout New York City led to the chopping many programs. Creative fundraising and teamwork among administration, faculty and students made a difference at IS 318 (Grades 6-8), where chess was a rallying point in education, sports and development of cognitive abilities of average, low-income kids. Not one, but many chess stars were born. The school sent dozens of kids to state and national events far from home and won many titles.

Like “Searching for Bobby Fischer,” filmed about 20 years ago, “Brooklyn Castle” should overcome its lack of box office receipts when on Tuesday it becomes available for download on iTunes, and it is getting top reviews from www.vod.com. It’s a most captivating and emotional couple of hours. You may wish to replicate the “activism” at your local middle school.

Arthur Barlas of Chelmsford won January’s 33-player Reggie Boone Memorial; details at www.wachusettchess.org. The club’s Chess Chat February program tomorrow is scheduled for live streaming video in addition to regular on-demand availability, we are told.

GM Boris Gelfand of Israel gained educational partners to begin a new study to determine if chess improves reading performance and other cognitive abilities; details at www.chessbase.com.

See one of Dr. Imre Toth’s beginner lessons at www.nashobachess.org. The site was incorrect in last week’s column.

Jon Yeddia of Cambridge won the 79-player New Year’s Open at the Natick Senior Center. Full standings can be viewed at www.metrowestchess.org, or, as with all rated events, the www.uschess.org site under clubs and tournaments, then events rated by month and state.

New events begin this week at many clubs, and you’ll be greeted with a new format at the homepage of www.masschess.org, conceived by webmaster Tiffany Wang of Cambridge, but work is not done on all the new features, she told us last week. The spring scholastic singles and team tournament schedules have been added, according to state scholastic coordinator Steven Frymer of Lexington.

Answer to quiz: White snatches a free knight with 1. QxN, a capture unleashes the wrath of the two bishops. From Tim Brennan’s www.tacticstime.com site and new 1,000-position e-book, all with real amateur game positions.

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